awkward ccw places

[.308 Norma]

She looked at me, totally deadpan, and said "What? You think you're the only one in here that has one of those?" and then turned her back to me like it was nothing.

Ha! Thanks Fast Frank - that gave me a chuckle.

 

[Deputy25]

I don't worry so much about needing the EDC, or being the victim of an attack,
am much as having some jerk-hole anti-gun Social Justice Warrior grab my gun
from the holster, and do something stupid, in public, to "prove a point", and then
waltz away, leaving me holding the bag. I've taken to deep pocket carry, as a result.

I may not be able to respond as quickly, but nobody else is getting their hands on it, either.

Good heavens. Somebody tries to disarm me, the last thing they need to worry about is "proving a point". They will NOT be waltzing away.

 

[entropy]

Two words: sport coat.

A sport coat will accomplish two things. First, you will no longer look like a slob. Second, your concealment worries go away.

Up here, no one under 60 wears sport coats, and those over 60 that do, usually wear them: At church, at a funeral (usually their own), or at a wedding. Some older detectives still wear them. I just automatically assume anyone wearing a sport coat is carrying, until I visually "pat them down". The one other guy I know carries at church wears a sport coat. Haven't figured out what he's carrying, but I know that he is carrying.

As for myself, I usually don't worry too much about it. Anytime I wear new clothes with a CCW, I check myself in the mirror before I wear it out of the house. If I did wear a sport coat, it'd have to be white, with a pink crustacean.

 

[nettlle]

I have had my CCW about 10 months now. I was very paranoid about carrying at first. Constantly checking to see if the gun was out of sight. After checking my gun about 5,000 times I am now comfortable that the clothes I have selected are working out with concealed carry and can direct my attention elsewhere. Open carry is legal in Ohio so if someone does ever get a peek at my gun I'm still legal. Still I like to keep the gun concealed as a courtesy to others.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Jeans and sweat shirt or some t shirt. It prints even in IWB more then shirt coming up.

Maybe your wardrobe needs to change. Heavier T shirt msybe. What are you carrying

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Two words: sport coat.

A sport coat will accomplish two things. First, you will no longer look like a slob. Second, your concealment worries go away.

I Don't even wear shoes (unless it's snowing) I'm not putting on a sport coat

 

[Axis II]

Two words: sport coat.

A sport coat will accomplish two things. First, you will no longer look like a slob. Second, your concealment worries go away.

Sorry us working joe/under 35yo like to dress comfortably not like dr phil!

 

[Axis II]

Maybe your wardrobe needs to change. Heavier T shirt msybe. What are you carrying

J frame. I'm 6ft6 almost 280lbs 2xl shirt cause 3xl I look like some thug. With my little love handles it shows something is there but not what. T shirts or long sleeve shirts get a iwb and hoodies get the owb. I only had that one issue of it coming up but it always bothers me and I think it's more because there is a lot of people around.

 

[Elkins45]

Well, if you’re carrying a J frame then just stick it in your pocket. It might print but it won’t be visible.

 

[.308 Norma]

Sorry us working joe/under 35yo like to dress comfortably not like dr phil!

Me too. And I'm 65+ and haven't worked in years. I can't remember ever wearing a sport coat, but I do have a couple of vests that work just as well for CCW, probably better when it's 95 degrees out there.

 

[Flechette]

Don’t forget shoulder holsters. They conceal the gun well since you can have the gun under your arm.

Also, if there is a tense situation you can fold your arms and actually have your hand on the gun without looking like you are ready to draw a gun like you would with a belt holster.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I don't like untucked clothing. Never in place. I have a 4" S&W K-frame (M66) and wear it appendix IWB with tucked shirt. Sometimes even my wife will ask me if I'm packing as she can't tell.

Early on I was nervous about people noticing and went through hell during a real estate showing as the leather of my new DeSantis thumb break scabbard squeaked. Other than that, no problem.

 

[FL-NC]

Re-evaluate your clothing, equipment (handgun and holster), and weapon. Train with whatever you end up going with. I live in Fl, so most of the year its shorts and t shirt, so I had to do some re-evaluating myself.

 

[Axis II]

Me too. And I'm 65+ and haven't worked in years. I can't remember ever wearing a sport coat, but I do have a couple of vests that work just as well for CCW, probably better when it's 95 degrees out there.

I cant believe he called me a slob!

 

[JR24]

Nope. I dress around the gun and usually sit

Sorry us working joe/under 35yo like to dress comfortably not like dr phil!

I'm one of those! Yet I really like the sport coats from Duluth Trading. Not too formal, light enough for spring and good for carry.

Else I have alwayd found a flannel/button down unbuttoned over a tshirt will let me carry even a 4" .44 mag comfortably with little worry about getting made.

Then again I carry at 2-3 oclock.

 

[Fiv3r]

In the summer months, I generally go with a pocket .380. My work attire is jeans and tucked in polo. My day to day requires a lot of going in and out of people's houses/property, in and out of the truck, etc.

This time of year my work slows down. I don't worry about wearing a work polo as my days are pretty much sitting in my office. My work attire and weekend attire is the same. Usually a novelty tee with an open flannel thrown over it. I'll usually carry a bigger gun when possible.

I'm 36 (probably the reason I wear a novelty tee with a flannel when I wanna be comfy...its been working for me since 1992). 12 years or so ago, the ironic trendy thing to do was a novelty tee with a sport coat over that. Sort of a proto hipster thing before the scarfs and beards and ironic flannel (mine is not ironic. I'm a contractor so it serves a purpose. Also, I've been wearing them since Grunge was the sound of the day...of course back then we just tied them around our waists). Anyway, I have a couple of pics of me sporting such a coat and tee combo. That's the last time I wore a sport coat where it wasn't a wedding or funeral.

I would just carry what you are comfortable with and do your best. I don't want to make others nervous or be easily "made", but it's really not a big deal.

Yesterday I carried a Single Action Army out to lunch wearing just such an outfit. Short of the CLUNK the butt made against the wooden bench as I sat down, no problems

 

[Tirod]

The issue is belt carry, inside or out. Rarely hear about pocket, shoulder, or deep conceal holster aka appendix or groin carriers with any complaints about it.

Here's a philosophical point - do you need that firearm to present so quickly that belt carry is your only option? It then goes to 1) weren't you paying attention in the first place, 2) what method does better in a specific situation? Belted carry has disadvantages compared to the others in ways that we usually won't admit. Almost all the photos of carriers used in ads are belted carry - but we are not cops and do not have the "hero" requirement to run to the sound of gunfire.

Look at the places belted carry doesn't work so well: Seated in vehicles with a seat belt over the gun in the way. Seated in restaurants with people close at hand sitting next to you in a booth. Last thing you need there is "clingy" family hampering your draw. Same for church, "huggers" have been a continuing issue for outing guns quite a while. And in the current climate men are well within reasonable grounds to not open their arms fully and just taking a hug. Then there is work - if its not at a desk, seated, you may be moving around in warehouse shelving, which is usually irregular and grabs at the waistline, driving equipment seated, at a workbench - waist high - operating machinery with controls, often waist high.

"Gun men" wear them waist high. Wearing your gun at that level means you are comporting yourself as one and that is also a tell that you carry. However, shoulder, pocket or deep conceal - not to forget ankle - means you don't have to alter your body language as much, and it reduces revealing the weapon. Instead of accepting the industry notion you should wear a belted gun, think it thru and discover what you may prefer given the balance of what works and what doesn't.

We read a lot of concern about outing the firearm, the bulk is always belted carry. If we are CCW - then maybe belted carry is the problem not the solution.

 

[CDW4ME]

Any of you guys ccw in a store or specifically a restaurant and it just drives you crazy thinking its going to come uncovered, someone might see it and start problems, etc?

I never used to carry when out to dinner but there was a crackle barrel where a guy decided he was going to bring a shotgun in and murder his wife and kids while they were enjoying dinner. He even chased the girls into the bathroom where he murdered the kids so this got me carrying at every restaurant that allows it. Lately I have noticed I get really nervous and constantly making sure my shirts pulled down and had a few buddies get after me that it looks more suspicions. I was carrying in a home depot one summer and lifted my arm to reach for something and it came undone and some guy kept following me around the store. Getting ready to go out for a few hours with some friends and debating if I leave it at home or take it. Everyone says I'm paranoid taking it to dinner but you cant even eat or go to a movie without people murdering people.

Do criminals/psychopaths/high on drugs exempt some stores & restaurants? (I think not)
Are criminals/psychopaths/high on drugs predictable? (I think not)
Unless the people calling you paranoid have psychic ability they can't predict actions of others.

I've been carrying for 25 years, started out with minimal 38 snub/380 and went bigger over time.
Appendix IWB (12:30) it is very easy to conceal a Glock 26/27 and a 19/23 is not unduly difficult.
Same for strong side IWB, a Glock 26/27 is very easy to conceal and a 19/23 not unduly difficult.
With a loose fitting untucked cover shirt a Glock 19/23/32 disappears...
and I can lean forward a fair amount without printing (I'm 6'1 / 215# for reference):

 

[Jim NE]

No worries here at all.

The first few months after I started carrying I kind of felt like that even though it was deeply concealed and never had any issues.

That wore off pretty quick for me though. I now mostly carry OWB with a cover garment and don't worry about a slight bulge or the bottom of the holster becoming slightly exposed.

I agree with Good Ol' Boy. A little unnatural at first, then it becomes second nature. I think at first, some folks may try to carry guns that are just a tad too large, or OWB. I mostly carry IWB or pocket, but with the right pistol, rig and clothing, I'll make OWB work. I did the other night at the movies, and not much concern.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I cant believe he called me a slob!

I'm not calling you a slob but you're not that good looking either.
My point being, stop worrying nobody is paying that much attention to you.
If you are going to carry you should always carry IMO.

 

[Demi-human]

Is anyone else wondering why @entropy is wearing a small Lobster on his jacket?
And white, this late in the season...tsk, tsk.

Carnations are passé. Prawn for Prom, Hermit crabs for Homecoming! A Caridian Shrimp for your Cardigan, an Oshima's porcelain Crab for the Opera and a late night cab!

 

[george29]

Pocket carry two guns everyday (M&P340 + NAA 22M). If I get paranoid about printing my wallet goes over the gun so the bulge looks like a wallet, which it is. Android cellphone does the trick too.

I did experiment with ankle carrying both of the above. Holsters have to be really good and it takes a few days to get used to but nothing beats Pocket Carry for speed and stealth.

 

[Sistema1927]

It is good to live in a state where open carry is legal. The occasional "peek a boo" of your concealed weapon doesn't create a crisis.

 

[RAEIndustries]

You should always carry if you can, just take a couple deep slow breaths and lose the nervousness

 

[nettlle]

For me carrying is like wearing a seat belt. Which is least comfortable? The prevention or the risk?